Our pick: Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Republican who would work to cut government, spending, taxes and debt.

Also running: Gov. Charlie Crist, running as a "sometimes liberal, sometimes conservative" independent; and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who presumably would be a reliable vote for President Barack Obama's policies.

Voting: Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. Last day of early voting is Oct. 31 in Duval County; Oct. 30 in St. Johns.

Vacancy: Republican George LeMieux, a former Crist aide, was appointed to the Senate by Crist to fill the unexpired term of Mel Martinez. LeMieux said at the time that he wouldn't run for a full term. Many observers expect him to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in two years.

Rubio for U.S. Senate: Sharp and reliable

Voters will have three very different choices when they cast ballots for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by George LeMieux.

They can vote for Democrat Kendrick Meek and accelerate, or at least preserve, President Barack Obama's expansion of government - and the staggering deficits that go with it.

They can vote for Republican Marco Rubio and help slow down or even reverse that very dangerous course.

Or they can roll the proverbial dice - vote for independent Charlie Crist and find out, later, exactly how that affects the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

The Crist conumdrum

As a Republican, Crist was nominally a conservative. But when he left the party after it became clear that he wouldn't get its Senate nomination, he changed many positions - and, in fact, polls suggest he's drawing more support from Democrats than Republicans.

Crist is an engaging personality - and he made quite a seductive case for his candidacy to The Times-Union's editorial board. He says he won't decide until he gets to Washington whether to caucus with the Republicans or Democrats.

When asked about his lack of transparency, he replied that he could, basically, offer to caucus with the party that would support the legislation most favorable to Florida.

In other words, he would be a power broker - unlike the other two independents who are already in the Senate.

Crist also said there were a lot of extremists in both parties - and he would be in a position to reject both elements, deciding issues on their merits rather than party doctrine.

That sounded tempting. But no, the logic of Crist doesn't withstand a little skepticism.

This nation has been through incredible change since 2008. Either this country needs more government or it needs less. It doesn't need a little of both.

And the promise of a little pork shouldn't affect which party a senator chooses to join for caucusing purposes.

That sort of "wheeling and dealing" helped get this country in debt many years ago, and it certainly won't get the deficits down now.

Future taxpayers - this generation's children and grandchildren - need someone with a little more long-term vision.

Crist is a likable person. This newspaper has endorsed him in the past. But his performance as governor has been disappointing.

And in these difficult times, a senator needs to stand clearly for or against the status quo.

Reform health care. Ideas: Allow sale of health care insurance across state lines; give individuals a tax break for buying insurance; promote electronic medical records; enhance health savings accounts; allow small businesses or organizations to band together so they can get low-cost policies; and encourage states to get rid of crushing malpractice costs, which are passed on to individuals in their health care bills, by encouraging passage of tort reforms.

If, in general, you support those stances, you should vote for Rubio.

If you oppose them, you should vote for Meek - who is proud that most top Democrats, from Obama on down, support his candidacy.

If you want a wheeler-dealer, then Crist is your candidate.

Rubio already has been proclaimed a rising star in the national Republican Party - and, after our interview, it was easy to see why.

He was impressively organized, answeried all questions clearly, methodically and completely but without a lot of wasted words.

If he does eventually rise to a Senate leadership position, that will bode better for the state than Crist's "maybe I will, maybe I won't" positions.

It's very clear to me and to put in simple words to understand:
If you support the failed policy of Obama, then vote Meek and you'll get the same. Stop blaming the old administration - this administration has had two (2) years to show what they can do and folks were in a terrible situation. It’s not going to get any better by placing someone in office that has the same policy stance.. We’ve had enough..
If you want a typical politician who takes his direction from the polls, vote Christ. Yes he has done some good things but you really don’t know where the guy stands or what he’s going to do next in an attempt to gain popularity. I don’t completely trust him..
If you want a representative who can be a welcome fresh change, who will listen to the will of the people whom elected him to office, then I believe Marco Rubio is your man. If you really want change, this is the kind of change we need in office, this man knows whom he works for (us) not his own self serving interests… And I like what I see and hear.. I concur with the TU article and think he will help put us back on the right track..
Like my Father before me, who voted for the candidate who can best represent his constituency, do the most good to carry out the will of the people, this Democrat is voting Rubio...

sounds like a warning that anyone in his way could get cut and many poor and seniors have always depended on conservatives to make their lives harder for them and make all else better for the rich and the business community.